And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven.

Daniel 5:22-23a

Last week I listened to a sermon from Alistair Begg from the book of Daniel. The king of Babylon had witnessed a hand writing on the wall, but before Daniel interpreted the message for King Belshazzar, the prophet reminded the king of the stories of judgment involving King Nebuchadnezzar. Somehow, along the way, the new king refused to humble himself before God. Instead he mocked the God of heaven.

How is it that some people who know the truth still rebel against God? Alistair referenced the passage below –

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Romans 1:21-23

Most people today would avoid the idea of worshipping a literal idol, but when we take pride in ourselves above the God who created us, we are running the risk of becoming fools,, no matter how wise we claim to be.

One person who epitomizes this line of thinking is Yuval Noah Harari, is an Israeli historian who claims that “human history began when men created gods. It will end when men become gods.”

Paul would challenge that way of thinking as he wrote, “they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!”(Romans 1:25b).

How do we reject this lie? The book of James holds the answer –

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

James 4: 6-8a

Humbling ourselves before God will help us avoid the lie of pride.